Mongolian Astrology and Divination
I have always been very interested in astrology, chinese zodiacs, and divination. Some people may label these practices as unscientific or superstitious. However, astrology have existed for centuries and it is a system that was developed by careful observers after thousands of years observing astrological signs and it’s results. So, there must be a certain high percentage of accuracy to these written records though it is not always 100% accurate because in life, nothing is guaranteed. It is for this reason that many Buddhist meditations and practices can give us positive results as it help to turn around astrological disturbances, such as the practice of Black Manjushri.
Recently, I came across this article about Mongolian astrology. As many of you may know part of my heritage is Mongolian, so reading about a topic I am interested in which is related to my Mongolian background is particularly interesting to me. I’m sharing it here for all to read as I think this subject may appeal to some of my students too. I do not recommend this for anyone as this is just for your reading pleasure.
What I found particularly interesting is the Buddhist elements in these manuscripts. Because Buddhism as a religion is not one that change one’s culture but find it’s way to assimilate into a person’s culture, just as we see it here in this manuscript. The application of divination into this Mongolian astrology is almost similar to the ones done by Tibetan Buddhist monks to aid a person in times of need. I personally have received much benefit by requesting divinations from my teachers and I also know many of my students have benefited from the divinations they received. Divination when done by a qualified practitioner, who has a genuine heart and compassion to help others, the results will turn out incredibly accurate. Some may think it is magic! But contrary to that, there are very technical details to obtain accurate results which I will write about in the future. I hope Kechara Forest Retreat will have a few divination masters to serve the public in the near future.
Do read the article below, which explain about the significance of the astrological text. I look forward to read your opinions about astrology and divinations.
Tsem Rinpoche
A Mongolian Manual of Astrology and Divination
Michael J. North, Head of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts in NLM’s History of Medicine Division, takes a look at one the highlights of the Library’s Turning the Pages project, a Mongolian manuscript concerned with interpreting the heavens.
Detail from a page in the manuscript, “Departing on a Trip 2″
In 2001, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) launched Turning the Pages, a resource providing interactive access to a range of rare books, manuscripts, and documents from the historical collections of the NLM on its website, via iPad App, and in onsite kiosks. To date, the project has offered the public access to a wide range of early printed books and manuscripts that span centuries, cover topics from surgery and anatomy to botany and horse veterinary medicine, and originate from places as diverse as Iran, Japan, Egypt, Italy, and now Mongolia. In November 2014, the NLM added a Mongolian manuscript entitled Manual of Astrology and Divination.
This colorfully illustrated handwritten book is part of a collection at NLM of about fifty manuscripts from Mongolia, many of them dealing with astrology, astronomy, and divination from a Buddhist perspective. Prominent among the subjects divined about are health and wellness. This particular manuscript is full of charts and diagrams that astrologers, generally Buddhist monks, would use to calculate auspicious times to do certain things, such as depart on a trip or remove a dead body from a dwelling.
“Basics of Mongolian Astrology”
The text itself is in Tibetan, which was the liturgical language of Mongolian Buddhism. Similar to Tibetan traditional books, this manuscript consists of unbound, oblong leaves of paper written on both sides. Also following tradition, the book is wrapped in a silk cloth with strings tying it up into a tight bundle. The hand-made paper was likely imported, the inks and dyes used for the manuscript were most likely hand-made locally, and it was probably copied by a professional monk-scribe. While it was copied sometime in the 1800s, the information in the text is likely to be many centuries old.
Most Mongolians are followers of Buddhism, a religion which originated in India and came to Central Asia via the Silk Road in the 3rd century CE and from Tibet and China during the era of the Mongolian Emperor of the Yuan dynasty, Kublai Khan in the 13th century. Because of this, Mongolian astronomy and divination were heavily influenced by Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditions. The many colorful charts in this manuscript were based on astrological texts imported to Mongolia from Tibet in the late 1700s. Much of this philosophy was laid down and taught in Tibet and Mongolian by Sumpa Khenpo Yeshe Peljor (1703–1788), a Mongol Buddhist monk and master of both astrology and medicine from Amdo, one of the traditional regions of Northern Tibet near modern-day Mongolia. In 1789 a school for the study and practice of astrology based on his teachings was established in Urga, modern-day Ulan Bator, which is today the capital of Mongolia.
“Eclipses and Zodiac”
Many of the charts in the manuscript used for making calculations may not appear to Westerners to be charts at all. The leaf pictured above contains charts in the form of a man’s body (far left) and a glaring face with its mouth open (far right). The numbers written in cursive on the human chart on the left (‘khor lo) are used to calculate the movements of Saturn (spen pa). According to old European medical astrology Saturn affected the spleen, whereas in Indian astrology, Saturn rules the knees and legs. This chart places Saturn at the center of the male body to suggest the planet’s influence on bones, ribs, nerves, and possession of male energy. The chart on the right resembling a face is used to calculate Rahu, which corresponds to the solar eclipse. Garuda, a mythical half-man/half-bird figure, is also depicted on the page, to represent the force and power energies that are at play in the accompanying charts.
“Naga”
The charts on this leaf, pictured above, refer to a text used for the calculation of the stellar constellations (skar ma) and corresponding fluctuations in Naga or serpentine energy. In the tables, the 28 lunar mansions, or segments of the lunar ecliptic, are each given by name. Nagas are powerful spirits of the underworld that take the form of snakes (sprul) and half-snake/half-human creatures (klu). Naga energy has an important effect on human health, wealth, and weather, and this kind of divination chart is used to determine Naga offerings and practices.
The selection of images and curatorial text for the manuscript’s appearance in the Turning the Pages project were carried out by Dr. Uranchimeg “Orna” Tsultem, a native of Mongolian. Dr. Tsultem holds a PhD in Art History from the University of California at Berkeley, where she has served as a lecturer on the Art of Mongolia and Tibet. She has curated a number of exhibitions on Mongolian art internationally, including in Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York, and Bonn, Germany. She currently holds a faculty position as an Associate Professor at the National University of Mongolia, and is working on several research projects, which include contemporary women’s art; she is also writing a book on Mongolian Buddhist art.
“Travels and Lions”
“Solving Disputes”
“Lotus”
“The Cover”
Source:
- http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/a-mongolian-manual-of-astrology-and-divination/
- https://ceb.nlm.nih.gov/proj/ttp/mongolian-gallery.html
For more interesting topics:
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The Buddhist Protectors of the Chinese Zodiac
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Interesting post about astrology and divination theory . Divination, is the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by various natural, psychological means. Methods of divination can be found around the world, and many cultures practice the same methods under different names. It has been performed by different cultures the world over for thousands of years. A passion for the knowledge of destiny has led us to the practice of divination. There are many different forms of divination such as reading Tarot cards, crystal balls, astrology, make contact with spirits and so forth.
Most Mongolians are followers of Buddhism, The Mongolian horoscope is based on these beliefs. Mongolian astronomy and divination were heavily influenced by Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditions. Astrology is a pseudoscience that claims to divine information about human affairs and terrestrial events. The most famous, known, documented form of Divination, in Tibetan Buddhism is through Oracles. Interesting read…now i have a better understanding of it.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This is a very interesting article to know that Mongolian astrology is closely related to Buddhism. Some of us might think astrology is a very superstitious practice but it is practised in Buddhism.
From the scripture, our body body parts are related to different planets. In a way, it means our body and the universe are in fact one. Therefore, we should respect our environment because if our mother nature has lost its balance, our health will be affected as well.
Our environment is badly affected by pollution due to human activities, we see climate changes. The occurance of natural disasters happen more nowadays compared to before. This is a sign that our planet has lots its balance and how we are affected.
The great Protector Manjushri Dorje Shugden depicted in the beautiful Mongolian style. I hope many Mongolians will print out this image and place in their houses to create an affinity with Dorje Shugden for greater blessings. To download a high resolution file: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
The powerful Mongolian nation has a long history and connection with Manjushri Dorje Shugden, as expressed in the life of Venerable Choijin Lama, a State Oracle of Mongolia who took trance of Dorje Shugden among other Dharma Protectors. Read more about Choijin Lama: https://bit.ly/2GCyOUZ
Astrology, Chinese zodiacs, and divination are very interesting articles which I do enjoyed reading . Throughout most of its history astrology , Chinese zodiacs and divination was considered a scholarly tradition. For me first time coming across Mongolian astrology and divination . Mongolian astrology and divination has the similarity to the rest. Many cultures practice the same methods under different names. The study and practice of astrology dates back to many centuries ago and many cultures have attached importance to astronomical events and so forth. Using of charts and calculations can be seem in most cultures seeking divination about health and wellness. Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this with us.
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m hoping for more about astrology and divinations, where Rinpoche will guide and teach us more about this in future especially on the details for determining its accuracy. As mentioned by Pastor David Lai in his reply comment to Ming Wen, it seems there are many more ways for divination. I’m eager to learn more. Am trying to find time to read the one of the books authored by Lama Anagarika Govinda : The Ineer Structure of the I Ching https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/lama-anagarika-govinda-2.html
Before I encountered Buddhism, I didn’t believe divinations, astrology or Feng Shui at all. For me, it’s more like a way for these so called Master of Feng Shui or Master of Fortune Teller and etc to exhort money from laypeople. I saw how Taoists did their divinations and usually it comes with the gesture of asking for a favour in return. Some who are in dire need of help usually will consult these people and the result: sometimes it works and sometimes it’s not. So, it’s 50:50.
However, since I’ve read about how Buddhist Masters control their death especially by calculating the perfect timing and date for their own auspicious death has more or less influenced the way I think about these things. I’ve read about how masters controlled their breathing just to get the perfect timing to die. Plus I’ve heard many miracle stories of Rinpoche giving perfect instructions to clear obstacles through divinations (actually Rinpoche can even give instructions without divination) https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/personal-attendant/the-miracles-of-tsem-rinpoche-true-story-1.html
Fast forward to these days, now we even have online calendar that will tell us the auspicious and inauspicious things to be done/avoided on that particular day. Isn’t it amazing? Thank Yu Rinpoche for this article and I really really do hope for more info on divinations and astrology.
This is an interesting and informative post. Astrology and divination are one of my favorite topics.? I learned that, Mongolian astronomy and divination were heavily influenced by Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditions. I’m always curious to know the results and answers to a divination. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this very interesting write up and pictures ???
Empirical science came out of observations and repeated experiments, and so did many types of eastern science like ‘Iching’ , Feng Shui and so forth. Recent developments in science showed that the theories of Empirical science sometimes face in the face of reality, like the experiments done by Quantum physicists(QP). Th experiment from the QP under the same conditions an experiment can yield a different result when the observer and person doing the experiment differs. Go figure.
This is an interesting and informative post! Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
From the article, I learned that “Mongolian astronomy and divination were heavily influenced by Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditions.” and this make me recall that when we produced The Paranormal Zone Season 1, we did one episode titled “Divining Your Destiny” We featured few types of divinations, the most impressive one was the oldest methods of prediction called Nadi astrology, also known as palm leaf reading; this type of astrology is usually a closely guarded secret passed down from generation to generation.
The Nadi Leave reading master started with a general reading and then, based on the person’s interest, additional leaves are consulted to explore areas such as marital relationships, profession and business, past or future lives.
The Nadi reader also suggested remedial measures that the person can perform to reduce the influence of past bad karma and enhance the benefits of future activities.
The master also stressed that he is only a Nadi reader and what is written on the leaves is read and explained by him; he does not add or omit any information found in the leaves.
Regardless of performing any types of divinations, I think the ability to perform divinations for the benefit of others is acquired through intensive retreats under qualified masters and the motivation for performing divinations must always be pure & genuine – to bring relief for the suffering of all beings and not for one’s own personal gain or fame.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing such interesting blog post!
Personally, I’ve some thoughts about divination. When I was small, when I watched Hong Kong’s Cantonese drama series, those actors used to say “God’s will cannot be tell (天机不可泄漏)” When they are facing difficulties and ask for advises from the master. I wonder how divination within Buddhism works. Futhermore,I didn’t know that we have divination within Buddhism, I thought it is only available in Taoism and Wetern countries. I wonder are we all live and react according to our Karma. Even if we received wise advises from divination masters, would it be also due to our Karma? For instance, one is taking a rebirth as a human being is a Karma, has contact to Dharma until we face problems and received wise advises from our Guru to resolve the difficulties we are all experiencing Karma.
Wish to experience how divination works!
Thank you. _/|\_
Hello Mingwen,
Nice to see you commenting and learning on Rinpoche’s blog. Perhaps, I can help you with your curiosity about Buddhist divination. Divination can be done by Buddhist master directly from his own clairvoyance that is attained due to his meditations or it can be done through contacting a Buddha or an enlightened Dharma Protector. The most commonly contacted is the female protectress Palden Lhamo, Manjushri and Dorje Shugden.
To contact these great beings, we need to have gone through specific retreats and training from a lama. The method of contacting is through a dice and a box. The lama asks a question to the deity and throws the dice, the symbol on the dice that faces up would have a certain meaning according to a divination manual. The answer given is based on the contact with the deity. Other methods are like counting using a mala, going to sleep deliberately to get an answer from the deity, folds of a robes and also peering into a mirror.
Karma literally means action and the results of our actions that come back to us is called vipaka. Yes, you are right. Just getting wise advice would mean that we must have had the karma (or rather vipaka) to receive sound advice. Everything we do is karma and we will receive the results but our destiny is not set in stone. The Buddha said that we can change the course of our life if we apply the right methods and change our habits and actions so we get a different result.
What we experience is affected by our previous karma but we are not slave to our past. As human beings, we are endowed with intelligence and a free will (most of us), so we can do what is necessary to change our outcome. That depends entirely on our learning, understanding and applying the necessary steps. Divination cannot stop all problems and sufferings but it can help point the way out of a lot of unnecessary problems and difficulties.
I hope this explanation helps you, Mingwen
_/|\_ Thank you, Pastor David, for spending your time and gave such good explanation to my questions. Your explanation has eased my curiosity!I like this following sentence from your explanation a lot! “What we experience is affected by our previous karma but we are not slave to our past.”
Thank you!
Dear Rinpoche,
Many ethnic have their own culture to do divination.
In Chinese culture, some of the divination is asking the Buddha or Bodhisattva, and from the poem on the divination, the answer is giving to the person who need to know.
From this article, the Tibetan Divination is very unique. It is related to the universe and human body. This mean, long before human being able to understand on the existence of the planets, the Mongolian have already knew that is such planet, and the most interesting is, they can relate to the influent on the planet and the part of human body.
People depends on divination, especially when they are in a difficult stage and not sure on the next move, thus, divination using dharma can actually helps the person a lot. I too hopes that Kechara Forest Retreat will have a few divination masters to serve the public in the near future.
Thank you Rinpoche for always have skillful ways to benefits sentient beings.
With Folded hand,
Freon
Astrology had always been a fascinating reading material for me at my leisure. The ability for astrology to predict a person’s future and foretold the unfolding of events are just so “cool” to me. The many Mongolian astrology element depicted in this blogpost are completely new to me, naturally, because I have never been to Mongolia or know anyone from Mongolia who possess knowledge in Astrology. Therefore it intrigues me to read about how Mongolian astrology correspond to Indian, Chinese & Tibetan astrology.
While it is nice to read about how certain element can affect out body and environment, I am glad to know that we make our own destiny. Nothing is cast in stone, so to speak. We can always fix what is not right once we find out so that we can change the fatal outcome.
Thank you very much Rinpoche for sharing this blogpost with us. I truly enjoy reading it. I would love to have my chart read by a qualify Astrologer if I have the chance.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella
I never knew about Mongolian astrology, much less even thought about it, before this article! What I find interesting about this article is that there is a common theme that runs throughout the human race and its various cultures of trying to divine our future and trying to figure out the best way to do things. In the West, they have tarot cards and ouija boards; in the east, you have dough divination, dice divination, etc.
Although people may not necessarily be Buddhist, it means that to some level, anyone who divines regardless of the culture or religion:
1) recognises that life is impermanent but still there must be some way to cope with and predict it.
2) recognises that things are beyond our control (if we don’t have the tools to control it with), so we need some way of figuring out the best way to do things so we give ourselves the best chance of succeeding.
3) realises that despite religion or culture, people have the same or similar worries that we have to help them with e.g. family, career, work, bills.
But sorry to say, I would trust a Buddhist-based astrological and divining method over a non-Buddhist one. Why? Because the most important thing about any divining art is the being we are propitiating to receive our answers.
If the being is an unenlightened one, then although they themselves may be well-meaning,their lack of limitless clairvoyance could mean their advice leads you astray many lifetimes later. What is more, if the being propitiated is really low (for example a spirit), then you run the added risk of displeasing them in the course of trying to get your answers.
Only when something is based on Buddhist philosophy will I trust it because the teacher, practitioner and knowledge is derived from the blessings of the Three Jewels.
i have always find it fascinating in divination, with the ability in telling one’s future.
Buddhist divination has take a steps further, telling what should one’s do now so that good things can happen in the future, and to avoid from bad thing to happen, and of course, with the motivation of dharma right in the mind.
In Tibetan traditions, one can do retreat and study the divination skills, tapping into the mind and energies of a particular deities, we can help sick people to find the right doctors and medicine, help desperate person to get out of a difficult situation, advising traveling dates, solve families problems, advancing spiritual practices and many more, everything is to benefits the recipient so that later ones can settle down in pursuing their dharma practices eventually.
More people with divination skills will definitely a great benefits to the society, and of course, will benefit the growth of dharma as well.
The human race has been fascinated by astrology for ages, even today, where we find our self checking through the ‘good’ or ‘bad’ days to perform certain important rituals like making offerings to the gods, demigods, marriage, making a new house or starting a business. We normally consult experts on the subject in temples to seek divination to choose those above for appropriate dates.
It seems the Chinese, Mongolian, Thai, Indian or generally Asians would seek astrology and divination as it became part of their tradition to do so. Actually, Mongolian astrology is new to me and reading this the first time that it has similar basis as Chinese astrology too. Both Chinese and Mongolian cultures had infused these practices into their own culture since ancient times and still practiced now today.
This is an interesting article but fascinating all the same.
“Astrology, in its broadest sense, is the search for human meaning in the sky; it seeks to understand general and specific human behavior through the influence of planets and other celestial objects. It has been argued that astrology began as a study as soon as human beings made conscious attempts to measure, record, and predict seasonal changes by reference to astronomical cycles.” – Wikipedia
“Divination is the attempt of ascertaining information by interpretation of omens or an alleged supernatural agency. From the earliest stages of civilization, people have used various means of divination to communicate with the supernatural when seeking help in their public and private lives. Divination is most often practiced as a means of foretelling the future, and sometimes the past.” – New World Encyclopedia
Throughout history of human civilization, man had a liking to foretell the future so that they are prepared for what’s in store. Perhaps it is the survivor’s instinct as natural calamities have wiped out their agricultural produce leaving them to suffer until the next harvest.
The art of astrology and divination has evolved to be very elaborate and highly sought after even till today. Tibetan Buddhist divination is very accurate and highly sought after. This practice is available so that Buddhist practitioners know ahead of time how to avert negative karma when it arises. These negative karma can slow them down from their spiritual practice. Tibetan Buddhist divination requires the diviner to go through a series of practices to ensure that the divination results are accurate. That’s why Tibetan Buddhist divination is world renown and highly sought after.
Thank you Rinpoche for the above article.
Hi Rinpoche,
Thanks for sharing. Was checking on family roots when this pop up.